What is Imopetro’s mandate?
Imopetro is a consortium of companies responsible for procuring liquid fuels such as gasoline, jet fuel, gas oil, and LPG in Mozambique on behalf of all oil marketing companies (OMCs) operating in the country, since OMCs are not allowed by decree to import fuels individually. The one-supplier model fits the logistics needs of a country as vast as Mozambique, enabling the country to maximize the level of coordination and efficiency in importing and distributing fuels. Imopetro is in charge of the operational side of importing fuels (i.e. placing the orders, ordering the vessels, and planning the discharge to the terminals of Maputo, Beira, Nacala, and Pemba). Once the fuel product arrives in Mozambique, in-country distribution is managed by the individual OMCs. The financial side of the importation is undergoing a process of liberalization, meaning that OMCs are increasingly allowed to retrieve financing and directly pay the suppliers.